Tag Archives: Brandon Nimmo

I couldn’t help but wonder what Mets GM Sandy Alderson – the game’s smartest general manager – was thinking last night when his team was shut out for the eighth time. And, the fourth time by a 1-0 score.

Perhaps he was mulling over his Twitter account and what 140-character quips he might treat us with. Hopefully, he was thinking about the July schedule that will define this season. If he was, hopefully he was overcome by a sense of urgency. Somehow, I doubt it.

The payroll is down. Alderson did his job marvelously in that regard, although the parting with Reyes was a bit sloppy. Actually, for a team in New York, the Mets’ payroll of just over $100 million is too low.

For the first time since 2008, the Mets are competitive. They lived off the buffer of an 11-game winning streak in April and go into Wednesday’s game with the Cubs two games over .500 and in second place 3.5 games behind the Nationals. We would have signed up for that in a heartbeat entering the season, but after spending several days in the rarified air of 10 games above .500, we want more.

And, with one solid pitching start after another being wasted, it’s frustrating, if not aggravating, to have Alderson tell us the “market is thin.’’ It makes us angry that he gives the appearance of sitting on his hands.

I don’t care how thin the market is, do something to get some hitting. Michael Cuddyer won’t play before Friday at the earliest. … The bench is ridiculously thin. … The Mets have used three third basemen since David Wright was injured and there’s no prospect of his return.

Quit frankly, waiting for Daniel Murphy to come off the disabled list wasn’t the answer we wanted to hear.

OK, I get it, Sandy, you don’t want to trade any of your top four prospect pitchers – Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steve Matz – and that’s fine. At least it is fine for right now.

The market might be lean, but it’s your job to find a nugget. It’s your job to push the envelope and put together a package to make a trade for somebody nobody is thinking about. It’s your job to find a taker for Niese and the others. It’s also your job to realistically look at the four foundation pitchers and ascertain their trade value. And, also project who will be hardest to sign and keep. That last thing shouldn’t be too hard to figure out.

What’s better, keeping all four and missing the playoffs, or trading one and possibly getting in?

If the playoffs began today, the Mets would be on the outside with 83 victories. It would be a winning season, but not what we want.

Now that the payroll is manageable, it is your job to do something to make the playoffs happen.

If you can’t, or won’t, make a deal, then I don’t want to hear about not rushing young prospects like Michael Conforto, or Matt Reynolds, or Brandon Nimmo. The young pitchers are here, so let’s see about the young hitters. We all know this isn’t really about preserving their fragile psyche as much as it is delaying the service time clock. If you wait too long, the window might be closed.

And, by a window I mean July’s brutal schedule that includes three games with the Giants, seven with the Dodgers, three with St. Louis and four with Washington. Of those 17 games, only five are at home.

Let’s face it, the season could be over by July 31 and you know it. Moves must be made now.

Sandy, you and ownership asked the Mets’ fan base to be patient and they have. Now that they see a glimmer of what could be, they want it. And, it is your job to deliver.

Mets lefty reliever Josh Edgin, as expected, sought a second opinion with Dr. James Andrews regarding Tommy John surgery. The MRI the Mets took will be sent to Andrews and examined. It will then be determined if Andrews needs to examine Edgin.

The current diagnosis is a stretched elbow irritated by a bone spur.

Edgin told reporters Friday: “I’m looking at the second opinion as a mental thing to make the decision a little easier, whatever it may be. The best outcome is this rehab will work. I’m looking at it optimistically and prepared for both ends of the spectrum.’’

The worst-case scenario is surgery, but if it is done it should be shortly so Edgin is ready for next season.

WHEELER SCRATCHED: Zack Wheeler was scratched for Saturday’s start against Washington because of a tender elbow and blister.

LAWSUIT SETTLED: The Mets settled their lawsuit with Leigh Castergine, who was fired, Aug. 26, 2014, after four years of employment.

She alleged sexual harassment from COO Jeff Wilpon, claiming she was fired because Wilpon was “morally opposed’’ to her being unmarried and pregnant.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and the parties stated in a joint statement: “The parties have decided to resolve this matter, which has brought more attention to the workplace environment for women in sports and will result in the organization being more attentive to the important issues raised by women in sports. Additionally, we are both committed to the further development and encouragement of female executives in our industry. Both sides? have agreed to have no further comments.’’

ROSTER MOVES: Brandon Nimmo and Gavin Cecchini, both first-round picks, and catching prospect Xorge Carrillo were reassigned to the minor league camp. … The Mets have 54 players in camp, including Bobby Parnell and Edgin, both of whom are ticketed for the disabled list.

There is more discouraging news about the Mets’ Ike Davis, who is wearing a walking boot on his right foot and doesn’t expect to play for at least another week.

Inexplicably, Davis hasn’t had a MRI, and to compound matters, took a swipe at the media, saying: “Obviously I could have went out there and blown out and dealt with more articles about not saying it’s hurt.’’

Of course, that was in reference to him saying he hid an oblique injury last season.

With three weeks until Opening Day, Davis won’t get close to the 90-plus at-bats the Mets hoped and appears he’ll likely open the season on the disabled list.

In addition:

* Bartolo Colon worked four innings and gave up three runs on five hits in an 11-1 rout by the Marlins. Offensively, the Mets managed six hits and struck out ten times.

Vic Black is 25, throws a wicked fastball, and will open the season as the closer if Bobby Parnell isn’t ready. Of course, he must do better with his control.

Black blew away Astros first baseman Jesus Guzman on three pitches to close the Houston sixth, but struggled with his command as he walked the bases loaded in the seventh. Black worked one inning and threw 34 pitches. In contrast, Zack Wheeler threw 40 pitches.

Tom Glavine knows you were disappointed, but New York Mets fans should let it go. All those seven runs he gave up won’t get off the board.

Glavine didn’t make it out of the first in the season finale, when the Mets completed a historic collapse in which they blew a seven-game lead with 17 to play. Even now, that seems incomprehensible.

“I still get people hating on me on Twitter and everywhere else over that game,’’ Glavine told reporters yesterday in New York following the announcement of being elected to the Hall of Fame. “Like I’ve said to people, for what was an otherwise lot of fun for five years, that was not the way I wanted to end things here. I wish people could get past that a little bit and look at the other good things that I did, but I understand that there’s still some anger from some people out there.’’

Perhaps the real anger from many Mets fans was his answer to the question of whether he was devastated.

“Devastation is for things in life that are much more important than this,’’ Glavine said. “I’m certainly disappointed.’’

Intellectually, he’s correct. But, logic gets thrown out the window when your team is eliminated on the final day.

As I’ve written the past several days, Glavine was a good signing by the Mets. He always took the ball and he produced. A few more runs would have been nice for him.

PARNELL CLEARED: Closer Bobby Parnell has been cleared for baseball activities following his Sept. 10 surgery for a herniated disk in his neck.

However, being cleared does not mean he will be ready to start the season.

Parnell will report to Port St. Lucie next week.

NON-ROSTER INVITEES:

The following non-roster players have been invited to spring training: